Election Diary

THE co-founder of the Lush cosmetics empire has endorsed Green candidate Sian Berry and donated £10,000 to her campaign. Today he will get down on one knee to pump up her bike tyres to prove his commitment to the cause. He said: "Small businesses are essential to our high streets, so I really like her idea to set aside space in all new developments for small businesses."

CAMPAIGN CAPERS

NOT all Tory MPs are happy at being told by party chairman Caroline Spelman that they will have to take time out to campaign for Boris. One backbencher has already spotted the blond one's recent remarks to a gathering of London's Polish community at which he said he disagreed with David Davis over payments of child benefit to Poles. The shadow home secretary had questioned whether it made sense to give the handout to those whose offspring are not in the UK. Then again, he isn't running for Mayor.